Sam Fender has donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings (roughly $32,853 USD) to the Music Venue Belief.
The donation will help the non-profit’s work defending and securing the way forward for grassroots venues throughout the nation.
“I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out,” stated Sam Fender. “These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
Added Mark Davyd, CEO and founding father of Music Venue Belief: “This is an incredible gesture by Sam, demonstrating once again that artists absolutely understand how vital grassroots music venues are to their careers and to their communities. We are honored to accept this donation and will ensure every penny of it makes a direct difference to the campaign to keep live music at the heart of our towns and cities.”
This isn’t the primary cash Fender has donated to MVT, both. His 2024 area tour raised greater than £100,000 (roughly $131,430 USD) that was distributed, by MVT by way of its Liveline Fund, to help 38 grassroots venues throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
On the time, Fender stated: “It’s brilliant to see that the money raised from the arena tour is making a real difference to so many venues. The grassroots circuit has been decimated over the last 10 years or so and the idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense.”
It was simply final month that Fender received the coveted prize for his album Individuals Watching, a mission and subsequent honor that solidified his status as one among Britain’s most necessary songwriters.
The ceremony was held in Newcastle this yr, the primary time the occasion passed off exterior of London. Fender took house the honour over fellow nominees like Pulp, Wolf Alice, FKA twigs, and Fontaines D.C.
Purchase Sam Fender’s Mercury Prize-winning Individuals Watching on vinyl or CD now.
